Gucheng Lake National Urban Wetland Park

Gucheng Lake National Urban Wetland Park

The planned area of Gucheng Lake National Urban Wetland Park extends from the west at Gucheng Lake Bridge and 500 meters east of Yinghu Taoyuan Road to the east at the eastern shore of Gucheng Lake, from the north at Yongsheng Weir, the northern end of Shigu River, and the northern end of Laizhuzhou Park to the south at the area south of Yinghu Taoyuan, covering a land area of about 45.5 square kilometers. It mainly consists of five parts: the waters of Gucheng Lake, Yongsheng Weir, the Lakeside Boulevard Scenic Belt, the Shigu River Scenic Belt, and Laizhuzhou Park, encompassing three types of wetlands: lake wetlands, river wetlands, and artificial wetlands. The effective protection and utilization of the Gucheng Lake wetlands can preserve habitats suitable for wildlife to the greatest extent, protect biodiversity, and through the conservation and restoration of vegetation along the Shigu River and Gucheng Lake shores as well as marsh wetland vegetation, further fulfill vital functions such as intercepting and reducing non-point source pollution, protecting water sources, and maintaining wetland biological environments—forming an ecological barrier to the south of Nanjing’s urban area.

The core area of Gucheng Lake Urban Wetland Park covers a land area of 12.9 square kilometers, consisting of the Shigu River Scenic Belt, Laizhuzhou Park, Yinghu Taoyuan, and the surrounding waters, designated as a key protection and ecological restoration zone. It serves as a major node in the county’s green space system under the “one ring, two wedges” structure. The area features three major wetland scenic zones: the Wetland Colored Leaf Viewing Area, the Aquatic Chinese Fir Forest Area, and the Reed Marsh Area.

Gucheng Lake is located in the southeastern part of Gaochun District, Nanjing, and is named after the ancient “Gucheng” nearby. Commonly referred to as Little South Lake, it is an inland lake of Gaochun District with a current area of 30.9 square kilometers, roughly triangular in shape. The lake was originally a lagoon by the seaside, and coral fossils from that period can still be found and collected on the limestone formations around the eastern rocks and Huashan areas of the lake. Historically known as Danyang Marsh, over time, years of sediment deposition from rivers and streams created various lakeshore shallows. Through centuries of reclamation, the vast marsh was divided into three lakes: Danyang, Shiju, and Gucheng. Among them, only Gucheng Lake remains entirely within Gaochun District. It boasts clear waters and abundant aquatic resources, earning the reputation of “producing a bushel of gold every sunrise.”

To the east of the lake lie Huashan Mountain and Jiulong Mountain, while to the west it is flanked and protected by Yongfeng Weir and Xiangguo Weir. The lake water is crystal clear and shimmering, with picturesque lakeside scenery. “Gucheng Misty Rain” has long been celebrated as one of Gaochun’s most scenic views, attracting poets and scholars throughout history. The famous Silla scholar and poet Cui Zhiyuan from the Tang Dynasty (modern-day Korea) once visited specifically to tour the area, staying at the Zhaoxian Post Station by the lake. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the renowned poet Fan Chengda also cruised on this lake and left behind numerous poems. Gucheng Lake is also an important part of the world’s first artificial canal—the Xumen Canal. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, due to the military conflict between the Wu and Chu states and the need to transport grain and troops, the great Wu general Wu Zixu excavated this canal. Starting from Gaochun, it passes through Liyang, Yixing, Wuxi, and finally flows into Taihu Lake in Suzhou. On the southern bank of Gucheng Lake lies the ruins of the ancient Gucheng city, one of the earliest urban settlements in the Nanjing area, predating Nanjing’s Stone City by over 200 years. Cruising on the lake, enjoying the natural scenery, and reflecting on the ancient sites offers a uniquely evocative experience.

The area around Gucheng Lake features beautiful mountain and water landscapes and also serves as a large-scale aquaculture base and a natural reservoir for flood storage. Thanks to its excellent water quality, abundant bait, and favorable conditions, Gucheng Lake is a typical grass-type lake rich in natural food sources. It is the natural lake with the best drinking water quality in Jiangsu Province and is particularly suitable for farming Chinese mitten crabs. Other specialty aquatic species farmed in the lake include freshwater shrimp, eels, soft-shelled turtles, perch, and pearls, totaling more than 20 varieties.